Shanghai Port continues to experience congestion due to weather, service and terminal changes due to shifts in ocean carrier alliances. Shanghai is still feeling the aftereffect of the major Maersk cyber-attack that occurred last month. Please note that operations may be delayed as a result of this congestion.

Chittagong Authorities Working on Relieving Major Congestion

Port authority have been working on solutions to lighten the congestion in Bangladesh’s busiest port: Chittagong. The congestion has caused multiple problems in the operations of shipments – one of them being that box ships stay “average of 12 days” to call the port since May. This congestion has been a result of several conditions, such as bad weather, equipment shortages, and Ramadan. The effects of this problem have grown as the port experiences growth in cargo and container handling. The average stay time for a container vessel is supposed to be no more than two days under normal circumstances. The container vessels are experiencing a delay of “10-11 days in receiving berthing permission.” This increase in stay-time has caused shipping companies to raise freight charges to recoup the losses, which businessmen conclude that might result in financial losses.
Larger ships will now be allowed to call at night, “more space will be allocated for containers at nearby yards.” Port officials are also working on getting customs to clear “three-tiered gantry cranes” so that they can be used at the port. These solutions are the start of alleviating the increasing problem of this major congestion. (Source 1,Source 2)

LA- LB to Increase TMF

The West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) has announced that on Aug. 1st, the Traffic Mitigation Fee(TMF) at the LA and LB port will increase by 2.3%. Beginning Aug. 1st, the TMF will be $72.09 per TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) and $144.18 per FEU (Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit). The fee is only charged for containers that are moved between 3:00 am to 6:00 p, pm weekdays. (Source)

APL Reports Highest Co2 Emission Reduction

American President Lines (APL) has announced their seventh consecutive year of environmental improvements, reporting their highest recorded carbon dioxide emission reduction of 48% in 2016. This marks a 3% increase from the 2015 report, exemplifying their efforts of conserving the environment. Carbon dioxide emission has been a major contributor to today’s global environmental problems. The emission of this gas is part of the phenomenon called the “Greenhouse effect” in where the excessive emission of the earth’s gases warms the Earth’s surface. The Greenhouse effect has been one of the main contributors to the record global warming temperatures through the years. Moving forward, APL aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per container by 30% between 2015 to 2025, a target set by the CMA CGM Group. (Source)

Slowdown of Gate Operations At JNP

Please be advised that gate operations at Jawaharlal Nehru Port(JNP) (Nhava Seva) will be closed as of July 24th. This may affect deliveries and movement if service is not resumed. To avoid any delay or shutout, please plan EXIM schedule in advance to plan accordingly. If you have any questions, please contact your local Worldwide Logistics representative.

Operations Disruption in State of Gujarat

Heavy rains in North Gujarat have caused disruptions road and rail operations. The railway stretch near Maliya Miyana Station is now flooded, causing intermodal operation to be affected. The Mundra Morbi highway has also been closed as heavy rain are expected in the next 48 hours. Please see table below for alternatives to these affected vessels:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your local Worldwide Logistics Representative.

Last week, COSCO Shipping Holdings offered to buy Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) for $6.3 billion, marking a new chapter in the industry’s ongoing carrier consolidation. Pending regulatory approval, the entity would have more than 400 vessels with capacity exceeding 2.9 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). Click here to read more.

Record Summer Projected for Imports

According to the latest Global Port Tracker report, container imports at major U.S. retail gateways are expected to reach record highs this summer. Import volumes at ports measured by the Global Port Tracker are expected to expand 5.1 percent in July and 2.2 percent in August. Click here to read more.

Shipment Delays Due to Fires in British Columbia

The Canadian province of British Columbia is currently under a state of emergency due to wildfires. Please note that shipments transiting western Canada could be delayed because of the fires. Click here to read more

Idle Vessel Fleet Shrinks

According to Drewry Shipping Consultants, the idle containership fleet has decreased from 1.7 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) in November of 2016 to 474,000 TEUs in June of 2017. Drewry attributed the Hanjin Shipping fallout as a key reason for the decline. Many units that were idled in the aftermath of the Hanjin bankruptcy have since been scrapped or picked up by new owners and operators.

Long Beach Records Second-Best June

During the month of June, the Port of Long Beach handled 658,727 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), making it the port’s second-best June in history. For the quarter, the port stated that total cargo throughput increased more than eight percent.

Air Freight Surges at London Heathrow

Air cargo traffic at London Heathrow soared 13.4 percent year-over-year during the month of June. As Europe’s fourth-largest air cargo hub, it handled 142,349 tons. North America remained as Heathrow’s top market with volumes up 15.8 percent compared to 2016. Click here to read more.

Worldwide’s customs brokerage company, Worldwide Logistics CHB, is at the forefront of the brokerage industry, utilizing the latest technology that the trade community has to offer. With more than 50% of the employees having their broker’s license, our employees are some of the most knowledgeable, and more importantly resourceful, in the industry.

“Due to years of inclement weather and various wars, Angkor Wat* has been deteriorating. The lead is for waterproofing to help shore up the buildings, and Worldwide Logistics Ltd helped in making this happen by shipping the lead sheets!”
*Angkor Wat is an Indianized temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world, build in the 12th century